Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 12 Empress Xiaoren of the Ming Dynasty - Empress Xu

In Kunning Palace, Zhu Gaochi, holding two bouquets of fresh flowers, entered the palace amidst the worship of the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs.

"Mother, I've come to see you."

"Honey, you're here too."

When Zhu Gaochi entered, he saw the current Empress of the Ming Dynasty, the historical Empress Renxiao of the Ming Dynasty - Empress Xu, Xu Miaoyun.

At that moment, Xu Miaoyun was chatting with Zhang Yan, both of them with smiles on their faces.

Zhu Gaochi's gaze was mostly focused on Xu Miaoyun.

After all, this was his first meeting with Xu Miaoyun, and Zhu Gaochi greatly admired this virtuous empress.

Xu Miaoyun sat on the chair above the table, dressed in the Empress's everyday clothes. She wore a light-colored straight-cut robe with a dark lotus pattern, a sapphire blue brocade cross collar, and a black-trimmed vest. A sash was tied around her waist, with a white jade pendant hanging from the sash.

Her hand rested on the table, and a small portion of her blue satin undergarment peeked out from her sleeve, connecting to the pleated silk skirt she wore below, adorned with sparse orchid embroidery.

It looks fresh and elegant, yet it also exudes a calm and refined charm, appearing both grand and understated.

In fact, the mainstream pleated skirt for women nowadays is the horse-face skirt.

He recalled the women he had seen in his past life, dressed in cheongsams and horse-face skirts, who were both dashing and beautiful.

Xu Miaoyun and Zhang Yan watched Zhu Gaochi approach. Xu Miaoyun had a big smile on her face as she waited for Zhu Gaochi to arrive.

Zhang Yan got up, intending to go and greet Zhu Gaochi, but upon hearing the words "wife," her face flushed and her ears burned. She secretly glanced at Xu Miaoyun, who was smiling broadly and had even given her a special look, and then glared at Zhu Gaochi in a dark light.

Upon reaching Zhu Gaochi, Zhang Yan subtly pinched his arm.

"Your mother's here, can't you be serious for once..."

Zhang Yan's voice was very soft, and Zhu Gaochi heard it clearly, but he didn't have time to pay attention to it at all.

Zhang Yan was really pinching him, and it hurt so much that the corners of his mouth were twitching.

Only when she reached Xu Miaoyun did Zhang Yan release Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi rubbed his arm and saw that Zhang Yan was blushing and looking down. He then looked at Xu Miaoyun with a smile.

"Mother, these are the fresh flowers I picked for you."

Zhu Gaochi took out a bouquet of flowers, and Xu Miaoyun stood up to take it. The smile on her face did not disappear at all; in fact, it grew even brighter.

"You're so thoughtful, boss, to send flowers. I'll accept them."

After Xu Miaoyun finished speaking, she gestured to Zhang Yan, who was next to Zhu Gaochi.

She was fully aware of Zhang Yan and Zhu Gaochi's little tricks just now.

Actually, she was originally a little worried about Zhu Gaochi and Zhang Yan, because she knew what kind of person Zhu Gaochi was before.

The reason I was happy just now was because I talked to Zhang Yan about Zhu Gaochi's changes, and she was genuinely happy.

In fact, she was quite satisfied with Zhu Gaochi in all aspects, except for his lust, which he really couldn't control.

The imperial physicians had advised against frequent sexual activity, but Zhu Gaochi simply wouldn't listen.

What Zhang Yan said earlier only gave her hope, but what she saw with her own eyes now made her even more gratified.

From the moment Zhu Gaochi entered until now, she could clearly sense that Zhu Gaochi had truly changed and was completely different from before.

As a woman and Zhu Gaochi's mother, she was far more attentive to these matters than Zhu Di.

A father may not know his son as well as a mother, but a mother knows him best.

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhang Yan, who had withdrawn her gaze, smiled, and walked up to her, taking out another bouquet of flowers.

"Wife, how could I forget yours? I definitely need to have one too."

Looking at the flowers in front of her, which were just ordinary flowers to them, Zhang Yan felt an extraordinary sense of emotion, happiness, and shyness.

She gently bit her lip and accepted the gift, her eyes full of tenderness. Then, as if remembering something, she glanced at Xu Miaoyun, who still had a smile on her face but whose expression was clearly different from before, and gently squeezed Zhu Gaochi's arm.

"Mom's still here, how embarrassing..."

"Wife, what are you afraid of? Your mother has been through this before, and I dare say your father has never given your mother flowers like this before. What's there to be shy about?"

We're all family, let's be more open and honest.

"Right, Mother?"

When it comes to how to offend two people—no, three people—with just one sentence, Zhu Gaochi perfectly exemplifies the answer.

Zhang Yan blushed even more upon hearing this and hurriedly looked at Xu Miaoyun.

"Mother, he's talking nonsense..."

Seeing Xu Miaoyun wave her hand, Zhang Yan didn't continue speaking and directly twisted Zhu Gaochi's waist.

"Hiss~ Honey, what's wrong now?"

Seeing Zhu Gaochi's puzzled look, Zhang Yan lost interest in twisting his head. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

She realized that this was definitely Zhu Gaochi's weakness.

Xu Miaoyun stopped rubbing her forehead and instead wore a helpless smile.

She glanced at Zhu Gaochi and Zhang Yan, then at the flowers Zhu Gaochi had given her, and kept Zhu Gaochi's words in mind.

"You two, that's enough. I'm getting old. You two can be all lovey-dovey. What happens when we get back is your business."

"Boss, you're completely different now than before."

Xu Miaoyun's words made Zhang Yan's ears burn again. She looked down at her toes, clutched the flowers in her hands tightly, then carefully held them in her arms, unwilling to damage them in the slightest.

Zhu Gaochi looked at the two of them and was really confused. He assumed that Zhang Yan was shy and pulled Zhang Yan to sit opposite Xu Miaoyun.

"Mother, please stop teasing us."

I am definitely different now compared to before.

I was with my father just now, and he said the same thing.

Actually, I've come to understand a lot of things. Some people deserve to be treated well and shouldn't be let down.

As Zhu Gaochi spoke, he glanced at Zhang Yan again.

Zhang Yan felt even more moved and happy, but also even more shy.

This kind of thing is fine between two people, but now that Xu Miaoyun is involved, Zhang Yan feels like she wants to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xu Miaoyun looked at Zhu Gaochi, then at Zhang Yan.

"Daughter-in-law, you should go back now. You can come and keep me company again tomorrow."

"Yes, Mother."

Zhang Yan got up, wanting to find an excuse to leave first, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, he subtly kicked Zhu Gaochi again.

She was telling Zhu Gaochi not to be so frivolous.

Xu Miaoyun's comment that things were different just now has made Zhang Yan extremely worried.

Actually, she didn't care what Zhu Gaochi was like anymore. She liked Zhu Gaochi very much now, and that was enough.

It's good that the old Zhu Gaochi is gone.

Xu Miaoyun could still see Zhang Yan's little tricks clearly, and instead laughed even harder.

After Zhang Yan left, leaving only the mother and son, Zhu Gaochi spoke first.

"Mother, I know you will have doubts. I could have continued as before, but I didn't want to."

That was too tiring before. I want a home-like place and don't want to get involved in those things.

Actually, I've been thinking a lot lately about why my family has gradually become the way it is today.

Last night, I figured out a lot of things, and it was because I figured them out that I changed.

When my father asked me, I said I wasn't feeling well and needed to take care of myself.

Mother, your health is not good either, and the imperial physicians are helpless. I am very reluctant to accept this.

When I was young, I spent most of my time here, while you and Dad were in Beiping.

It's only been a few years since we were reunited. I want to find that love again, but this home is no longer the home I knew.

I've made up my mind. I want to make time to read medical books; I want to cure my mother's illness.

I don't know if I can do it, but I want to try. I don't want to have any regrets.

I'm tired of fighting with my dad and the second and third brothers, and I just want to rest.

My thoughts fail to resonate with others, so I must change myself.

Zhu Gaochi spoke frankly; these were his true thoughts.

Zhu Gaochi knew very well that women were far more attentive than men in observing their children.

These changes in him, which Zhu Di could not perceive, Xu Miaoyun certainly could, and that was unavoidable.

A subtle movement, a single word, or a change in expression can reveal clues.

Zhu Gaochi had no intention of hiding anything; the more he tried to conceal it, the more uncontrollable things would become.

It would be better to show it and let Xu Miaoyun see his complete change.

This is the way to break the deadlock.

Even so, Zhu Gaochi couldn't be sure whether Xu Miaoyun would notice anything else, or whether she would truly believe that he had changed, rather than becoming a different person.

Actually, this is highly unlikely, since he has all of Zhu Gaochi's memories, but the changes are not enough to make people disbelieve him.

After all, it's been completely transformed.

Did he have an epiphany?